After a run of just one win in seven competitive matches, Maurcio Pochettino's side put Stoke City to the sword while their star striker broke his duck for the season

Five months ago Tottenham arrived at the bet365 Stadium as one of the best sides to watch in the Premier League. Free-flowing in attack and experts at the quick press in defence, their 4-0 win that night convinced the few remaining doubters that they were genuine Premier League title contenders.


But, having won just one of their last seven competitive outings since that memorable evening, they arrived back in Staffordshire short of a little confidence and needing to boost morale ahead of their first Champions League date of the season against Monaco at Wembley on Wednesday. For the Ligue 1 side’s sake they may not want to watch much of what followed.

Tottenham are back in the groove.

Two excellent Heung-Min Son finishes got them going before Dele Alli and Harry Kane both broke their ducks for the season as Stoke were swept away. It could have been far more as the home side capitulated almost as soon as manager Mark Hughes was sent to the stands with the score 0-0, and the performance of Mauricio Pochettino’s side as much as the result suggests they are far from finished as a Premier League force.

Son’s two exquisite finishes were an early sign that the White Hart Lane outfit were right to rebuff the advances of Wolfsburg during the final days of the transfer window while goals for Alli and Kane are likely to do wonders for players who have looked scarred from both the way they ended last season for their clubs and the horror show that was England’s Euro 2016 exit.

But for Kane, in particular, getting off the mark by any means was the most pleasing aspect for many of the supporters who travelled up from north London. Having not netted in nine matches for either club or country, and with doubters again questioning his longevity as a top level Premier League goalscorer, he brought up his 50th top-flight goal with a back-post tap-in and was subsequently substituted moments later. He and his manager had got what they came for.

In truth, Spurs started sluggishly, with Stoke outpressing them and creating a couple of half-chances of their own. But there are few fitter sides than Pochettino’s, and with the early storm weathered, they were able to click through the gears and have the game wrapped up well before the hour mark.

Christian Eriksen again played the role of unsung hero after having a hand in all four goals, including assists for both of Son’s strikes, and his form is as important if not more so than that of Kane’s moving forward into the season.

The Dane’s signing of a new four-year contract is yet another signal of intent given the reported interest in him from the likes of Manchester United and Atletico Madrid, and if he continues to flourish under Pochettino his value is only going to go one way.

For now, Tottenham can celebrate a victory that marks them down as a title contender yet again.

There is still more to come, but just when they needed a reminder of what they are capable of when they get it right, they came back to Stoke.

They will always have Stoke.